I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions, but I’ve always been a goal setter. Since college I’ve made the habit of writing them down.

In the past, I’ve always focused on accomplishments and tangible acquisitions with the idea being that a shiny new computer, seeing my books published, would lead to happiness, fulfillment, and self-actualization. I’ve been reasonably successful in manifesting the things I’ve set out to achieve, but it occurs to me that I’ve been going about things backwards.

I’ve been hearing about the Law of Attraction since the mid-1980s, the idea that how you think and feel attracts the people and events in your life. Since college I’ve been consciously using the Law of Attraction to bring into my life the things I’ve wanted to have and experience, but it was only with Rhona Byrne’s The Secret (when the Law of Attraction got a good PR person) did I start to think bigger.

Yet even then, while many things manifested with uncanny speed and accuracy, there were a few goals that remained elusively out of reach. Was fear holding me back? A sense that I am unworthy? A preconceived notion that these things were difficult and took a lot of effort? Maybe all three.

This year I decided that, rather than spending my energy pursuing specific goals and aspirations, I am going to focus my energy minding how I think and feel. “Master that and everything,” says Teal Scott, author of Sculptor in the Sky, “EVERYTHING falls into place.” If thoughts are the first creation, as Stephen Covey suggests, then mastering them should effect everything that follows.

At first glance, the idea of controlling your thoughts — staying positive, feeling good, harmonizing with the frequency of things you want to attract — seems like a tall order. Oh, maybe it’s fine for an afternoon. A day or so. But what about long term? To always feel happy? To always think positively? Isn’t that next to impossible?

Maybe. Or maybe that is just a belief. What if it isn’t actually that difficult with a little concentrated focus?

This year I decided to do just that. Through a combination of affirmations, meditation, and just plain thought awareness, I am going to focus on positive thoughts and feelings, and trust that The Universe will reflect back that energy.

What methods have worked for you in controlling how you think and feel? I’d love to hear your suggestions.

One response to “Minding the First Creation”

I make a concious decision to live in the moment. Regardless of what happened in the past or could possibly happen in the future… today this moment is all I have. It takes the same energy to think negatively as it does to think positively. I practice conciously flipping that switch.